Marine Services Bureau

The Marine Services Bureau (MSB) oversees the day to day operations, logistical functions, research and development and in-house training related to the following programs:

Fireboat Operations
Rapid Response Vessels
Personal Water Craft
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats
Shallow Water Mud-Boats
Airboat Operations
Swift Water/Flood Water Response
High Axle Vehicle
Oversight of the Ocean Rescue Bureau
Oversight of the Dive Rescue Bureau

The Ocean Rescue Bureau (ORB) is composed of over 90 lifeguards who serve and protect the beaches of Miami-Dade County at Crandon Park Beach and Haulover Beach. MDFR ORB provides mutual aid to surrounding beaches that are not staffed with full-time lifeguards when requested.

The Dive Rescue Bureau oversees the over 450 Scuba Rescue Authorized (SRA) Divers that are an integral part of our emergency response to water related incidents in Miami-Dade County. Each front-line unit is fully outfitted with a minimum of two sets of full dive gear to assist in water related emergencies.

The Marine Services Bureau provides logistical support and training to the two operational fireboats (FB) that are staffed 24/7 and ready to respond within seconds. FB-21 & FB-73 protect and patrol the waterways of Miami-Dade County while responding to any incident/accident within our jurisdiction when hailed through VHF CH-16 or by calling 911. FB-21 & FB-73 also respond as requested by our Local, State, and Federal Maritime Partners.

The MSB oversees the four airboat’s that are operated by the Department which respond to emergencies in the over 1,400 Square Miles of Florida Everglades that are in Miami-Dade County. The MSB is responsible for the Departments Flood Response which include specialized High Axle Vehicles, Shallow Water Mud-Boats, Inflatable Swift-water boats, and Flood trailers that carry Jon-Boats to be used as Lily-Pads during flood events in Miami-Dade County.

The waterways within MDFR’s service area include beaches, shoreline, Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, Port Miami, Miami-River Port, Fisher Island/Trans-Mountain Fuel Farm, Intercostal Waterway (ICW), Florida Everglades, and a multitude of inland lakes, bays, and canals.

The Marine Services Bureau has an extensive Hazardous Materials Maritime Response Plan in place to respond and protect against any waterborne emergency that might threaten our sensitive ecological marine environment and the coral reef in Biscayne Bay and theAtlantic Ocean.

The Dive Rescue Bureau began SCUBA operations in 1985 and currently has more than 1,000 Rescue Skin Divers and 450 +/- SCUBA Rescue Divers.

Each fire suppression unit, Advanced Life Support (ALS) rescue unit, air rescue helicopter and fire boat is equipped as a water rescue unit with two sets of SCUBA rescue equipment and accessory gear.

The Dive Rescue Training Team has four Public Safety Diving instructors, seven certified SCUBA/rescue instructors and eight Dive Rescue Training Team assistants. Training consists of a full range of aquatic and water rescue subjects from American Red Cross Swimming and Lifesaving through NAUI Rescue Skin Diving and all SCUBA certification levels.

Rescue diver skills are maintained through annual Proficiency Improvement Training classes.
The Ocean Rescue Bureau is a team of well-trained, highly skilled professionals specializing in preventative actions, lifesaving surf rescue and humanitarian Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to beachgoers on the County's public beaches.

Miami-Dade County Ocean Rescue Bureau boasts 30 elevated and mostly enclosed lifeguard towers spaced approximately 150 yards apart and operational headquarters buildings, one at Crandon Park and the other at Haulover Beach.

Miami-Dade County public beaches are professionally guarded 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Crandon Park lifeguards guard an area of approximately 257 acres or 1,960,000 square yards of water and consists of up to 800 plus yards of shoreline. Lifeguards respond to emergencies at the beach owned by the Village of Key Biscayne and other unguarded beach-accessible areas around Crandon Park.

Haulover Park lifeguards serve and protect the coastline up to 100 yards offshore and respond to emergencies in the Haulover Inlet interior barrier islands and unguarded beaches and municipalities to the North and South of their primary response area.

Lifeguards perform surf rescues, emergency medical services (EMS) calls, artificial resuscitations (CPR) and other lifesaving efforts.

The Marine Services Bureau comprises over 100 personnel, including Beach Safety Managers, Lifeguard II, Lifeguard I, Bureau Chief, Bureau Captain, Bureau Lieutenant, Training Coordinator, Logistics Manager, and Logistical Personnel specializing in fleet repairs, facility maintenance, and overall logistical support.

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